"Linux has proven amazingly flexible: after nearly 10 years of use, I'm still impressed by how the Linux operating system does exactly what I want on any type of hardware. Desktop customization is no exception; from the ultra-modern KDE and GNOME window managers to with the likes of Fluxbox and AfterStep, there's a Linux desktop to suit everyone."

Can I understand it right ? I can install and use OpenOffice 2.x on Red Hat 7.0 installation, as I can on Windows 98 ?

Yes. You can also install it on Red Hat 5.2 or older, if you compile it from source. Can you do install it on Windows 3.1?

> Protect you from viruses & malware.
It's a myth.

Tell that to my desktop Linux box, sitting on the Internet without a firewall, and never getting ANY virus or malware in all the years I've been using it.

So unlucky me. Using Ubuntu for one and half year, and still cannot make Realtek RT 2500 WiFi PCI Cards on two desktop to run on Ubuntu. Latest driver included in 7.10 repos failed to detect my card, saying "card not installed". IT IS installed, damn it! ;-)

Tell it to Realtek. Reverse engineering will only take you so far. It's amazing what drivers you find in the Linux kernel, but the devs are not miracle workers. If Realtek doesn't want you to use their cards on Linux, that's between them and you, don't blame Linux for this.

> A working 64-bit desktop with all drivers.
Drivers - maybe. But not all applications.

Again, tell it to Adobe and the rest of the vendors who push binary blobs that only work on 32bit.

Say, you should start a Christmas card list or something. I can see that the list of vendors you should have a talk with is growing.

> A browser compliant with W3C standards,
> including SVG, and which can pass the acid2 test.

There are no Opera for Windows ?

He was talking about Konqueror.

Registration IS required on Windows ? No!

It's not? Then why do I have to enter my unique serial number if I want Windows to be fully functional and access to updates? Can't that serial be traced back to me? And why do I have to give my personal data to the Microsoft reps when I change my motherboard or CPU and Microsoft invalidates my copy?

It's not? Then why do I have to enter my unique serial number if I want Windows to be fully functional and access to updates?

Its not "your serial number". Its a Windows serial number and I do not see how you can be identified by that number alone. When you buy a copy (no matter OEM or retail) serial number is hidden inside box. It is not present on receipt and in store's accounting database.

And if you're paranoid enough ;-) you can activate by phone, by never used before cellphone and by using not registered pre-paid SIM card. Big Brother from Redmond will have a very hard time to track you then ;-)